My Soul Mate

Chapter Thirteen - Falling FOR Each Other...

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Draco opened his eyes groggily. His eyes were gummy and he couldn't see properly. He blinked a few times and then found himself on a bed in the hospital wing. His curtains were drawn on three sides, but were open on the fourth one, on his right. He shifted himself a bit to the right and looked out. A slim figure was standing a few metres away, bending over a table, her back to him.

"Hermione?" he said slowly.

Hermione spun around and found Draco awake.

"Draco!" she exclaimed and rushed to his side. She held his hand and felt his forehead. "When did you wake up?"

"N...now."

"You have no fever, thank god. Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah ... just dizzy. W-What happened?"

"You were after the Snitch in the match when all of a sudden you stopped and went out of track and then midway, you collapsed," explained Hermione confusedly. "I should ask you what had happened."

Draco bit his lip and tried to remember what had actually happened. And then, it came to him.

Theodore Nott had tried to attack Hermione, but Draco had gotten in the way and saved her.

But before he could mention this to Hermione, the nurse, Madam Pomfrey came bustling into his ward with Professor McGonagall. She spotted Draco and gave a small cry.

"Malfoy," she said, hurrying to his side and checking his pulse, "when did you wake up?"

"Right now, Madam." said Draco.

"How are you feeling?"

"Alright," Draco lied. He didn't want to stay there with the strict nurse long. "I feel normal."

"Even though you do, Malfoy," said Pomfrey, "I am afraid you will have to stay here till evening."

"Why?"

"Because we don't know what happened to you. Do you?"

Draco looked at the nurse and then at Hermione and McGonagall and then back at the nurse. "I was flying," he said slowly, lying again, "when I thought I heard someone call me. I flew over that way but then, I suppose I fain - I - I became unconscious."

"You have no idea what happened to you, Malfoy?" asked McGonagall suspiciously. "It seems that you were hit by some spell, one that cannot be traced."

Draco sat up and shook his head.

"I think we should keep him under observation, Poppy," suggested McGonagall. "It wouldn't be safe for him to go wandering alone, should anything unfortunate happen to him."

"I agree, Minerva."

Draco groaned audibly. "How long do I have to stay here?"

"You may leave after dinner," said Pomfrey crisply, "provided that we find no signs of danger."

"You won't," said Draco, almost to himself.

"I advise you not to go to sleep, Malfoy." went on Pomfrey. "We want to study you under normal circumstances. We have done a thorough check up and haven't found anything out of the ordinary yet, but we can't take chances."

"All right..."

"Granger," Pomfrey turned to Hermione, "I would suggest you get Malfoy some books to read or something, so he'll stay awake. After that, you may leave."

"Madam?" said Hermione tentatively. "Can I stay here, with Draco?"

"I am afraid not, Granger. We believe that someone has actually attacked Malfoy."

"Are you saying that Hermione attacked me?" asked Draco incredulously. "That's impossible."

"I did not say anything like that, Malfoy," said Pomfrey sternly. "But you cannot have any contact with anybody other than me, or allowed by me, as long as you are here."

Draco opened his mouth in protest but Hermione cut him off. "It's all right, Madam. I'll go and get some books."

Hermione left and Madam Pomfrey started giving Draco a load of instructions - the various possible signs he might show and the concerned illness. Hermione appeared ten minutes later, saving Draco from more lectures. Madam Pomfrey took the books from her and then shooed her away, not giving her a chance to say goodbye to Draco. Irritated, Draco took his Care of Magical Creatures book and started reading it, as Madam Pomfrey left the ward too, telling him if anything happened or he needed her, to ring the bell next to the bed.

But Draco had no intentions to study whatsoever. He knew that Theodore had tried to attack Hermione, but since Draco had gotten in the way, Theodore's spell had hit him. What spell had hit him actually, he didn't know. But whatever it was, wasn't a fatal one for sure. Theodore would never try and harm Hermione seriously, it would raise suspicion and Draco knew that Voldemort had given orders against any crime in school. But there was the fact that Theodore did try to jinx Hermione. If only Draco knew why...

But the thing that troubled him more was the fact that in his place, Hermione could have been. He was angered by the thought that someone had tried to harm Hermione.

I will kill Theodore for trying that, he thought furiously. How dare he even think about harming my Hermione!

Draco realized after a moment what he had just thought of. My Hermione?

Draco shook his head. It was a mistake, he told himself and thought about it no more.

He made a note to himself to see Theodore that very night, as soon as he got out of the goddamned place.

____________________________________________________________________

"Oh, Hermione," said Ginny as Hermione came into the private study in the library at around eight in the evening, "I thought you went to see Draco."

"I had," said Hermione sulkily, as she dropped into a chair, "but he wasn't in the Prefects' quarter."

"He hadn't said earlier that he intended going out tonight, had he?" asked Ginny.

"No. But he had left this note."

Hermione handed Ginny a piece of parchment, in which words were scribbled hastily.

Hermione - I've got work tonight. Can't see you in the quarters. Sorry, but I'll be waiting for you tomorrow.

Draco.

"I don't know where he could've gone," said Hermione. "I mean, where can he go?"

Ginny didn't have anything to say, so Hermione continued.

"He can't have gone to the Slytherin common room, he has stopped staying there or visiting the Slytherins. He is not even in the library ... might be some teacher had sent for him, but it must have been urgent, or unexpected, otherwise Draco would have told me."

"I s'pose so."

"But I'm worried. I mean, this morning he was attacked, or that's what Professor McGonagall thinks it to be. And then, he suddenly disappears. It's strange isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"He didn't even say if he was okay," said Hermione getting cross. "If the spell had any effect on him or not! I'll get him for this, he makes me worry sick!"

"Hey, calm down," said Ginny, surprised at Hermione's sudden outburst. "He must be all right, or he wouldn't have been discharged. You found the letter in the Prefects' quarter, right?"

"Yes ... yes, he must be okay. I didn't think of it, actually."

"I am not surprised," said Ginny, "you are too anxious about him."

"I hope he is not upset because Gryffindor won the match today. He wanted to catch the Snitch badly..." said Hermione, her voice trailing away, as she started thinking deeply about it.

Ginny didn't pay attention to Hermione any more though. She was reflecting on her behavior. Hermione seemed too concerned, she thought, more than necessary. Unless she was gravely mistaken, Hermione Granger is falling for Draco Malfoy.

____________________________________________________________________

Theodore Nott walked noiselessly up to Draco in the very classroom he had talked to him two weeks ago. Draco had called him to meet him there and he was already there, sitting like a king on a chair, well aware of Theodore's presence.

"Good evening, Theodore." he said when he felt Theodore sneak right behind him.

Theodore started in surprise. But regaining his composure, he said, "Good evening, Draco. I hear you had been in the hospital wing all day, after losing to Gryffindor."

Draco stiffened at Theodore's words, but he didn't actually mind losing to Gryffindor. At least, he had saved Hermione, which meant more to him than catching the stupid Snitch.

"You heard right," retorted Draco coolly. "Have you also heard that some bloke tried to harm me?"

Theodore swallowed hard before replying. "I haven't."

"But you know about it surely, don't you, Theodore?"

"Er ... me? How w-would I know about it?"

"Because it was you who attacked me, or should I say Hermione."

"Draco!" exclaimed Theodore, his face getting sweaty. "What are you saying?"

"You wanted to hurt Hermione, didn't you?" asked Draco acidly.

"I never -"

"You know you did. But you failed because I saw you and got into the way deliberately. Am I right?"

"Draco, please -"

"Am I right?"

"You have misunderstood, Draco!"

Draco didn't toy with words anymore. He got up and faced Theodore, and slammed one rock-hard fist into his face. Theodore yelped in pain and cowered as Draco raised his hand again. But he didn't hit him this time. He grabbed his shirt roughly and hissed, "Am I right?"

Theodore didn't answer.

"You don't want to raise my wrath, do you Theodore?" said Draco. "Seeing me from childhood, you know what I am capable of. So answer me, did you try to harm Hermione or not?"

Theodore knew that he would have to pay for lying. He didn't want more and he particularly didn't want to see Draco in a very bad mood. So he spluttered the truth out.

"Y-yes ... yes I-I did."

Draco gritted his teeth in fury. Butting staying calm, he asked, "Why?"

"T-the Dark Lord wanted me to," said Theodore fearfully. "He wanted me to hurt Granger a bit and to observe your reaction."

Draco felt his anger ebbing away and instead, he laughed out loud.

Theodore stared at him uncertain of what had he said which was foolish enough to make Draco laugh.

"V-Voldemort wanted to see me react if Hermione was hurt?" asked Draco incredulously, in between laughing. "What is that idiot up to?"

"Draco!"

Draco couldn't help his laughter. He never expected this from the one of the darkest wizard of all time. He muttered incoherent words every now and then like 'imbecile' and 'nutter'.

"Why are you laughing?" asked Theodore, confused. "Do you mean that you don't care if that filthy Mudblood is hurt?"

Draco stopped laughing and Theodore was rewarded with another hard punch. His nose started to bleed.

"I thought I had warned you not to call Hermione a Mudblood, hadn't I?" Draco hissed again.

Theodore nodded his head furiously.

"And you call her 'filthy'? She is more pure than you can ever be. She is pristine. This is my last warning, Nott, if I hear you insulting her again, you won't have a nose left for me to punch or for you to bleed."

Theodore swallowed again before nodding.

"And as for Voldemort, tell him that if Hermione gets even a scratch on her body, I'll personally see that he regrets it."

Theodore nodded again.

"And if I find you trying to hurt Hermione, you'll face something worse than death."

Theodore nodded yet again, feeling the dark power radiating out of Draco's body.

"Good, keep that in mind." said Draco and walked away, leaving Theodore trembling behind him.

At least Theodore had an answer for his master. Clearly, Draco Malfoy loved Hermione Granger.

____________________________________________________________________

Ginny entered the girls' dormitory at seven o' clock the next morning hoping to find Hermione. But Lavender informed her that Hermione had left half an hour before. Ginny supposed that Hermione was in the library, so she headed towards it. She had just entered the corridor on the fourth landing, where the library was, when she heard gasping and moaning noises coming from a small broom cupboard on her right.

Ginny froze. She knew how those sounds come about. She made up her mind to cross the corridor quietly, without disturbing the snogging couple in the cupboard. She had almost crossed the corridor when she heard them coming out. In spite of herself, she turned around and found Harry and Cho walking away, hand in hand in the opposite direction.

Ginny closed her eyes. It was not for the first time she had witnessed them kissing, but it hurt her a lot each time she did. She bit her lip and entered the library.

She slowly walked to the study section Hermione was always found in. True, Hermione was there, buried deep in her Transfiguration essay. She looked up when Ginny came in.

"Hi, Ginny!" she said. "What are you doing here now?"

"I was wondering if you have seen Draco," said Ginny as she sat in a chair. "I mean, how he must be and where did he go last night?"

"Oh, I haven't seen him yet," said Hermione worriedly.

She noticed that Ginny looked rather depressed. "What's up, Ginny?" she asked.

Ginny blinked a few times in order to stop the tears forming in her eyes from flowing. "I saw Harry and Cho kissing right now."

"Ah ... I'm sorry, Ginny,"

"It's all right," said Ginny, dabbing her eyes. "At least Harry is happy now. He has got Cho, the DA's going very well and so is his training session."

Ginny had informed Hermione of Harry's training against Voldemort. Now since Dumbledore wasn't there, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Lupin were helping him. Sirius and Moody would have too, but they were working for the Order of the Phoenix and were not at Hogwarts either.

Hermione had stopped attending the DA. She didn't want to face her fellow students when they were avoiding her, especially Harry.

"Anyway," said Ginny, "so haven't seen Draco yet?"

"No, but I'll go at seven-thirty," replied Hermione. "Would you like to come with me?"

"Oh, sure, why not."

And thus, at half past seven, Hermione and Ginny went to the Prefects' quarters. They gave the password (Allegro Passinato) and entered the living room. Draco was there, in one of the chairs, doing some composition.

He looked up when Hermione and Ginny came through the portrait. He wasn't surprised to see Ginny there; Ginny had been visiting him too and he had become quite friendly with her, realizing that all Weasleys were not as detestable Ron.

"Morning." he said.

"Morning," said Ginny as she took a seat next to him.

Hermione, however, slammed her books on the table and didn't greet him at all. Draco, surprised, looked at Ginny questioningly, who shrugged back.

"What's up, Hermione?" Draco asked.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and said icily, "Where were you last night?"

"I had to meet Professor Snape," lied Draco. He didn't want Hermione to know that someone was after her actually.

"You couldn't write it in that note?" said Hermione, her voice rising as she waved her hands angrily, "and you didn't even write about what happened to you. When were you discharged? Were you all right? Did Madam Pomfrey recognize what spell you had been hit with? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! I was worried sick. I couldn't even sleep properly."

"I -"

"Don't give explanations! You were attacked in the morning and then you disappear in the night. Do you have any idea how anxious I have been?"

"Hermione, I am sorry!" said Draco loudly. "Snape called me urgently, I didn't have time to write to you."

Hermione didn't say anything, but her eyes flashed dangerously.

Draco got up and held Hermione by her arms. "I am absolutely fine," he said. "Look at me. Nothing has happened. No one tried to attack me, it was probably all an accident."

Hermione dropped her gaze to the floor. "I was really worried," she said and hugged him.

Draco was surprised when she embraced him, but liked the way her soft body was pressed against his, so he hugged her back. He took in her strong smell of lavender and the silky feel of her reddish brown hair. He felt oddly calm and the tensions he was having concerning Voldemort last night, washed away. Together, they stood still for a moment or two.

Ginny cleared her throat loudly. Draco and Hermione jumped and broke apart. They hadn't realized at all what they were doing or that Ginny was with them. Embarrassed, they sat down, avoiding each other's eyes.

"Er, I think I should go," said Ginny, unable to stop herself from grinning.

"It's not what you think it is, Ginny," said Draco, though his eyes showed something else.

"Oh, I don't want to know what exactly it is, but I really think I should go."

With this, Ginny got up and walked towards the portrait hole.

"Ginny, wait!" said Hermione, her cheeks red. "I'm coming too."

Hermione picked up her books and got up too. She met Draco's eyes and saw an odd and uncommon glint in them.

"Bye." she said hastily and left with Ginny.

Draco chuckled quietly to himself after Hermione had left. He felt a pleasurable jolt in his groin when he remembered how close Hermione had been to him. The feeling was exciting and he longed for more.

Ginny on the other hand, was sure that Draco and Hermione were falling for each other, though unbeknownst to themselves. She didn't tell Hermione this, but made a note to herself to talk to them, especially Draco first, because she knew Hermione was naïve when it came to her own feelings towards boys.